SuAndi has worked in the arts since 1985. During this time she has performed across four continents but mostly enjoys working in the UK because of her strong belief that the strongest voice is homegrown.

Originally a performance poet her field of work has expanded into Live Art and Performance Art. She has also conceived produced and directed work including the acclaimed 2002 production In My Father's house which brought 100 Black men to the stage of Contact theatre.

Her commissioned work includes Public Art; Gallery based work and the librettist of the Mary Seacole Opera.

Her writing in embedded in her cultural heritage, born the Nigerian daughter of a Liverpool mother.

She says "I am constantly pushing against the barrier of racism in my writing but it is cloaked in humour and the celebration of humanity in all its shapes, colour and laughter".

Richard Chew (Composer)

Richard Chew is a composer, singer and pianist.

Recent performances include The Shouting Fence (Amsterdam), and the music for Rufus Norris's production of Sleeping Beauty (Young Vic, Barbican and New York).

His many works for young people include Rites of Passage, an oratorio for soloists, children's chorus and wind ensemble, Wise Eye, a children's opera for WNO, The Spirit Level, for The Knack at ENO (libretto by Rufus Norris) and Daughter of the Sea, an opera for the Lindsay Quartet and young performers, first performed in the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield in 2004.

Forthcoming commissions and performances include a new children's opera for WNO, Barcud (Red Kite) with a bi-lingual libretto by poet Gwyneth Lewis, an oratorio with Shout collaborator Orlando Gough, The Beautiful Man from the Sea, (WNO orchestra and chorus, Wales Millenium Centre, August 2005), and Sleeping Beauty in New York.

Creative team

Hyacinth Nicholls
Richard Chew
SuAndi OBE
David Edwards
Larry Coke

Mary Seacole
Composer
Librettist
Director
Producer

Gallery Click below for a larger image

Synopsis

Europe's most dramatic art form is given the re-mix treatment in this fusion of Caribbean musical influences with Western operatic traditions, visuals and text revealing black creative excellence in another dimension. No grander overture can be made than dedicating an entire opera to someone's life and there are few lives grander than that of Mary Seacole. Voted the Black Briton of the Millennium, Mary Seacole was a Jamaican healer, business woman and fighter against injustice and bigotry.

Despite being rejected by the British government and Florence Nightingale: her more celebrated rival, she undertook the arduous journey to the frontline of the Crimean War in order to comfort, healing and respite to the British soldiers.

A true blend of art-forms, opera combines the creative efforts of many. Celebrated composer Richard Chew worked in partnership with a cornerstone of the spoken word community, writer/librettist SuAndi OBE.

All-black operas are hard to come by, Gyenyame Productions has cornered this niche market and makes a special London presentation of this opera in honour of Black History Month and another great Black Briton, Bernie Grant himself.